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Satirical publication 'The Onion' releases book

Arizona Daily Wildcat

I appreciate comedy. It's not exactly a profound concession for everyone. After all, loves to be entertained, but one must also consider the work involved in creating intelligent humor. It requires an open and astute mind to look into the foibles of mankind, our blunders and tragedies, our greed and cruelty and manipulate the perception of reality to change it into something humorous. In this way, comedy - and especially satire - is a profound tool in looking at our most basic motivations.

The Onion's Our Dumb Century (Three Rivers Press, $15.00) is probably one of the most brilliant works of satire published today. For those of you unfamiliar with The Onion, here is a quick introduction. Distributed weekly throughout various cities around the United States (unfortunately not Tucson), this parody newspaper is so unfailingly funny it has attracted a cult-like following. Each week it focuses on issues that range as widely as major international milestones down to the local stoner. Happily, we Tucsonans are able to still access this publication through their Web site (www.theonion.com).

Another way to familiarize yourself with this genius is to pick up a copy of Our Dumb Century. In this book is a farcical sample of the front pages of The Onion through the last 100 years. The October 22, 1929 headline, for example, brags "Stock Market Invincible. 'Buy, Buy, Buy!' Experts Advise." The very next page, October 23, 1929, reads "Pencils For Sale. Stock Market Crashes; Debacle Linked to Jews, Negroes, Catholics, Anarchists, Foreigners, Women Voters." The following article is not only hilarious, but also richly illustrates our predilection for laying the blame on others.

April 16, 1912, a picture of The Titanic is displayed with the headline "World's Largest Metaphor Hits Iceberg." November 21, 1943, "Betty Grable Appointed Head of U.S. Army Special Masturbation Fantasy Squadron." September 30, 1949, a picture of Howdy Doody with the headline "Hideous Wooden Imp Causes National Panic." January 18, 1991, "CNN Deploys Troops to Iraq." November 21, 1995, "Whites Invent 'Rock and Roll." The September 18, 1954 issue explores the problem of "Gum In Our Schools!"

This is a highly creative work, with each page exploring something completely fresh. As diverse as the articles are, however, certain themes remain present throughout. The issue of racism is a perfect example. No punches are pulled when racial matters are dealt with, but far from being offensive, they are eye-opening and remind us of the American attitudes toward race and religion throughout this century. February 19, 1915, "Henry Ford Unveils New Line of Anti-Semitic Autos." April 7, 1917, "'Ku Klux Klan' Club Gaining In Popularity." May 13, 1932, "Lindbergh Baby Found Dead. Police Vow to Convict Non-English-Speaking Immigrant 'At Any Cost.'" October 1, 1955, "Rosa Parks to Take Cab. 'Screw This Bus S--t,' Says Montgomery, Alabama Commuter."

Our Dumb Century should be a staple in any library. It is one of the few books one can open up, read any page and get so much out of. It looks just as at home in the bathroom as on the living room table, and it is damn funny. And as a reward for reading the book, The Onion provides you with a bit of prophecy. For, on January 1, 2000, we will find that the "Christian Right Ascends to Heaven." Better get on that train now before it's too late.